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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. foot — a measure
  4. face — to confront
  5. rash — a series
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. can — to be able to
  8. rash — hasty
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. face — part of the head
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. stand — to bear
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. face — to point toward
  16. kick — in football
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. can — a tin
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. bowl — a dish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com